Menace of Manual Scavenging

Manual scavenging is the practice of cleaning human excreta from dry latrines and sewers. The practice is banned in India by the Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act,1993. Another act was legislated in 2012 called the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. There is also the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK), a non-statutory body of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Its tenure is extended from time to time. It provides Annual Reports to the ministry.

According to the UN India, manual scavenging refers to the practice of manual cleaning, disposing, or handling of the human excreta, in any manner, from dry latrines and sewers. Due to the prevalence of the caste system in India, such harmful tasks are mostly done by those belonging to the lower rung of the caste hierarchy, the Dalits. Like many other dangerous tasks, manual scavenging workers are exposed to the risk of getting infected with diseases like cholera, hepatitis, tuberculosis, typhoid, and many more. According to a study conducted by Water Aid India in 2018, 1,136 women were engaged in manual cleaning of dry latrines in just 36 settlements across four states. Even with all these risks, a study by TERI shows, the wages they receive are generally low, ranging somewhere between Rs.40 to Rs.100 for cleaning around 50 dry toilets and the maximum is Rs. 500 to Rs.1,000 for cleaning four drainage lines and sewers depending on the choice of employers.

Didn’t the Indian constitution abolish untouchability as well as the occupations that have untouchability built into them?

Even though the practice of untouchability is prohibited by the Indian Constitution, it continues to exist in our society. Similarly, the practice of manual scavenging continues to exist in many forms. Even the government promotes such an occupation. Workers are employed by the municipalities and the Indian railways to carry out manual scavenging. Manual scavenging is also carried out in private homes and in community toilets.

The task of identifying the manual scavengers is given to the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK), who in turn depends on the state governments for actual data. Lack of data is also hampering the compensation process where 10 lakh is granted to the families who lost someone engaged in manual scavenging activity, as of now only 50% of 123 workers were able to receive the compensation.

India records 5 million sanitation workers currently working in nine different types of sanitisation work. As of 2021, the survey conducted by Swachh Survekshan covered 4242 cities and 17,475 villages in India, making it the largest cleanliness survey in the world. Identifying the numbers of manual scavengers in India through these Survekshan will not only provide more extensive coverage but will also uniform the data collection process across different states through formalised techniques like service level progress (data collected by local bodies), citizen feedback, and certification process.

The people employed are made to clean the human excreta and dispose of it by carrying it on their heads or against their waists. Manual scavenging also includes workers engaged in cleaning drains, sewers, septic tanks, railway tracks, etc. During festivals and melas, where there are large gatherings of people, the practice of manual scavenging is widespread.

Why is manual scavenging still practised?

One of the main reasons for the existence of manual scavenging is usage of dry latrines. According to the 2011 census, there are 26,07,612 dry latrines in India. Manual scavengers are employed in cleaning these latrines. Such denial of the practice can also be related to the recent Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), which has also been criticised  for perpetuating the practice of manual scavenging in India by increasing the number of toilets that require manual cleaning. Based on the analysis of toilets constructed under the SBM till 2017, 13 percent have twin pits, 38 percent have septic tanks, and 20 percent have single pits, all of these come under dry toilets that require manual cleaning.

Indian Railways (IR) is the largest user of dry toilets in India, IR has 296102 dry toilets, which require manual cleaning, making it the biggest violator. Indian railway has installed 259,906 bio-vacuum toilets in all the long-distance travelling trains, which is not only helping save 400 crores of the additional maintenance cost, if steps like these are applied in all types of trains running, it can solve the issue of manual scavenging in government enterprise and will broadcast a positive message to other sectors who are relying on the practice of manual scavenging. In addition to this, the existing literature has also recognised barriers like the problem of identification, absence of alternative economic opportunities, and stigmatisation of the community for eliminating the manual scavenging from the country.

Has nothing been done to abolish manual scavenging?

It is easier said than done. The first President of India, Dr Rajendra Prasad, in 1950 declared this occupation illegal in our country and promised to take up the issue as a priority in the 1st Five-Year Plan. The Supreme Court of India had directed the Union and state governments to put an end to this practice. But the response has been half-hearted.

Manual scavenging is the worst occupation that exists in the world today. This is a practice that has been continuing for thousands of years and it is time to end it. For increasing the alternative employment opportunities for manual scavengers the Self Employment Scheme for Liberation and Rehabilitation of Scavengers (SRMS) was brought in;  however, as of 2019, the scheme had covered a mere 6%. Thus, employing all the identified scavengers in tasks related to Swachh Bharat Mission immediately after their identification could help them transition faster. 

Manual scavengers can be employed in building toilets, waste management, and cleanliness drive under SBM. As per the progress made till 2019, an estimated 90 crore person-days employment was generated in the Grameen region alone through SBM.  Further, the MNREGA and other social security schemes could be linked with the Scavenging Act of 2013. An amendment could be brought to link the Scavengers Act of 2013 to link with MGNREGA social security laws like Unorganised Sector workers’ Social Security Act, 2008. By doing this, scavenging can be eliminated to a degree in rural areas.

In addition to bringing the required changes in railways, the government should also construct more eco-friendly toilets. Models like Namma Toilets , which is the brainchild of Tamil Nadu Municipal Corporation, and other eco-friendly models that have been developed in countries like South Africa should be promoted through information sharing and assistance under SBM. By focusing on universal design and efficient water technology, these models provide the option of scalability as well. Thus, allowing easy adoption in rural and urban areas.